Off to Kyushu on wheels

(for Wednesday September 21)

The typhoon, which is causing mayhem further north, continued to deliver rain to Osaka so we resigned ourselves to the fact that we were going to get wet but decided that we'd put it off for as long as possible.  We went by subway to Umeda Station, left our packs in a coin locker and paid another visit to the Food Hall of the Hanshin Department store which we found so delightful last time we visited.  The quality and variety of food on display really is amazing! 

Perfect specimens of grapes and rockmelon - 10 500 yen (about $140)

Little cakes too good to eat!

We couldn’t resist, so we had an early lunch; curry udon noodles for John and a curry-filled bread for me.  We had a minor moment of panic when we couldn't find the right corridor in the railway station to get back to the coin lockers but John's navigation skills got us there in the end.  If it had been up to me, we'd still be wandering round the railway station with no bags.  That problem solved, we went back out into the street to find that the rain was still falling, but had eased a little.  As we had a ferry to catch, we decided to collect the scooters and get to the terminal, rain or no rain.  We signed the necessary papers, loaded up our baggage, wiped down the wet scooter seats and started the engines  - and then it stopped raining!  Along the way we saw the unique litter that accompanies typhoons – several mangled, inside-out umbrellas and the odd umbrella cover were either in the middle of intersections (somewhat dangerous for scooter riders!) or in the gutters.  For a bit of comic relief, we saw a car yard called Tomato Club.  Not quite as amusing as the Ultra Potato car yard that John saw on a previous trip, but close!  Maybe there’s a whole vegetable soup of car yards??  After a few wrong turns, we made it to the ferry terminal.

The Sunflower Ferry

We were too early to collect our tickets so we had a browse around the building.  

What the ...??

 

Well, I don't think it's what I'd call my shop if I had one!

We pessimistically bought some seasickness tablets (yoi dome - pronounced “yo ee doh meh” for the benefit of anyone who might need such a thing in Japan).  Although the trip is through the Inland Sea, we thought that the typhoon might create a bumpy ride.

Having been told that the restaurant meals on the ferry were too expensive, once we’d organised the ferry tickets, we bought a couple of packaged meals from the Lawsons convenience store to take on board.  While we were waiting on the scooters to go on board, a motor bike pulled up next to us, ridden by a very attractive young lady in a black helmet with a row of diamantes around the edge of the visor.  Quite a sight!!

Once we’d found our cabin, which was basic but perfectly adequate for its purpose, we went out on deck, ate our Lawsons meals and hoped that the yoi dome would work its magic.  By the time the ferry pulled out of the dock, it was dark, so we had the most spectacular view of the lights of Osaka.  It really was stunning. 

Goodbye Osaka - we're off!

Once we left the lights behind we took a stroll around the boat’s facilities and discovered that the restaurant meals were very reasonably priced so the convenience store meals were unnecessary – but that’s OK, we’ve still got the return trip.  After a while, we passed under the bridge to Awajishima, which looks gorgeous at night.  This bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world.  Unfortunately, the camera can’t do it justice so a ‘borrowed’ picture will have to suffice. 

Awajishima Bridge

 (photo: PakWheels.com)

We were delighted to find that the ferry is incredibly stable and we hardly noticed any movement at all.  After a soak in the communal (but gender-segregated) baths on board, we headed for bed.